Kessler gained plenty from MPA experience

LOS ANGELES -- USC fourth-year junior quarterback Cody Kessler made the trek to Thibodaux, Louisiana, last weekend to take part in the Manning Passing Academy, where he not only served as a camp counselor to the throng of high school players in attendance, but also to interact with and compete against a host of other top-notch college quarterbacks, including Florida State's Jameis Winston, UCLA's Brett Hundley and Oregon State's Sean Mannion among others.

"It was a great experience," said Kessler, who started all 14 games for the Trojans in 2013. "There were a lot of other great quarterbacks there which was really cool -- You know, getting to throw against guys from across the country."

And it's safe to say that Kessler, who completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 2,968 yards and 20 touchdowns with seven interceptions last season, more than held his own. In the main event of the camp, the Air-It-Out Challenge on Saturday night, Kessler advanced all the way to the semifinals. Mannion eventually won the competition.